Prior to heading West to depict the American frontier in paintings that would come to be the iconic imagery widely associated with the region, artists explored eastern states like Georgia, North Carolina, Florida and New York. Augusta, Georgia, is home to a thriving arts scene. Courtesy of the Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Here, galleries like the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, display prominent collections of art capturing the natural beauty of both the Old West and Eastern landscapes. The museum is also known from its annual Southeastern Chuck Wagon Gathering, which draws in admirers of all things relating to cowboy culture from across the country. This year, the 17th annual event will kick off on March 28 and will feature Western art, music, poetry, chuck wagon cuisine and more.

Georgia is also known for its wide array of art museums, including the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta—the oldest museum in the country devoted to the art and artists of the American South.

Like the Morris Museum of Art, the annual Westobou Festival also calls Augusta home. The week-long event recently celebrated its 12th year this past October by transforming downtown into an artistic mecca featuring music, dance, film, spoken word and visual art. 

Also returning to the area September 2020 is the 40th annual Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival. Presented by the Georgia Augusta Arts Council, the festival celebrates Augusta’s diversity and culture with a diverse fine arts and crafts market, global village full of international fare and five stages with live entertainment. 

Charleston, South Carolina’s staple art-centric event, the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE), will celebrate its 38th year this February. The 2020 rendition of the art show will feature 100 wildlife artists, plus a weekend full of events, live demos and competitions. 

Shortly after, the annual ArtFields competition and exhibition in Lake City, South Carolina will return from April 24 through May 2. This year, the nine-day-long flagship event will award over $140,000 in cash prices to innovative artists throughout the Southeast. 

Throughout the pages of this special destination guide, readers will gain insight into the region’s thriving art scene, as well as learn more about the artists and organizations that call it their home. 

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Inside the Booth Western Art Museum’s Modern West gallery.

Booth Western Art Museum
501 N. Museum Drive, Cartersville, GA 30120
(770) 387-1300, www.boothmuseum.org

 “The Booth’s annual For the Love of Art Gala and Art Auction draws Western art collectors and enthusiasts from across the county. Weekend events include a miniatures sale, quick-draw, silent auction, gourmet dinner and live auction. The 2020 Gala Weekend will be held February 21 and 22 and will honor Martin Grelle as the 2020 Artist of Excellence.“ — Diane Homesley, director of development, Booth Western Art Museum

Booth Western Art Museum, an affiliate to the Smithsonian Institution, is a 120,000-square-foot museum located in Cartersville, Georgia, where guests are invited to see America’s story by exploring the American West through contemporary Western artwork. The museum also houses a Presidential Gallery, Civil War art gallery and Sagebrush Ranch, an interactive children’s gallery. Early Western artists such as W.R. Leigh, Henry Merwin Shrady, Cyrus Dallin and Kathryn Leighton, as well as artists from the Taos and Santa Fe colonies are included in the collection. Most of the Cowboy Artists of America have works in the permanent collection and the Booth’s Modern West gallery showcases works by Nelson Boren, Anne Coe, Dan Namingha, Fritz Scholder, Z.Z. Wei and many others.

Recent acquisitions to the permanent collection include works by Tony Abeyta, Ethelinda, Gary Ernest Smith, Glenna Goodacre, Dave McGary and Baje Whitethorne Sr.Booth Western Art Museum, The Healing Songs, Balance, oil on canvas, 60 x 54”, by Baje Whitethorne. © Baje Whitethorne.

Booth Western Art Museum, Blue Corn Portal, oil on canvas, 50 x 70”, by Tony Abeyta. © Tony Abeyta.

Upcoming exhibitions include Warhol and the West (through December 31), New Beginnings: An American Story of Romantics and Modernists in the West (February 1 to May 3, 2020) and The Jackson Hole 5: Important Painters from the West (February 13 to June 7, 2020).

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SEWE artist Grant Hacking discussing his artwork with a collector at the 2019 event.

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition
Charleston, SC 29413
(843) 723-1748, www.sewe.com

Celebrating its 38th annual event in 2020, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) continues to present the finest in wildlife and sporting art. Held in Charleston, South Carolina, SEWE is the premier wildlife art show in the East, and features 100 acclaimed wildlife artists from across the nation as well as Canada and South Africa. Boasting all original artwork, the fine art gallery of SEWE encompasses nature-inspired art ranging from sporting and North American and African big game to landscapes. Jason Tako, one of the foremost Western, wildlife and historical Native American painters, will be the 2020 featured artist. Artists honored with this distinction over the years have included Brett Smith, Carl Brenders, Luke Frazier, John Banovich, Dustin Van Wechel and Eldridge Hardie. 

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Coming Ashore, vine charcoal on board, by Daniel Porter.

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, A Point of Honor, bronze, ed. 24, 14 x 20 x 12", by Walter Matia.

SEWE 2020 will welcome 12 new artists with roots spanning from Arizona to New Brunswick (Canada).

The event will open February 13 and close February 16 at multiple venues throughout historic downtown Charleston. VIP events and private art previews begin February 13. 

Collectors can view the full list of 2020 artists and available work on the website. A limited number of VIP packages are available, which offer private viewings, insider access and exclusive events throughout the weekend.—

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